Hosanna

by Pastor James Bell

Superstitious spirituality… okay, it’s an oxymoron. That is, if you are talking about the Holy Spirit.

John wrote to the church,

1 John 4:1 “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” –

Spiritually superstitious nomads wander across the spiritual landscape of Christianity. They are looking for that miracle…that perfect prophetic word…that definitive outpouring…that will change America. And yet they have a hard time committing to much of anything their local church is doing.

With a far-off look in their weary eyes, they point to this self-proclaimed prophet, or that so-called outpouring. They feel that they are aware of a higher dimension of spirituality than the rest of us, not seeing that they are tragically deceived by a perception that is more superstitious than spiritual. Their spiritual vulnerability makes the mouths of the wolves waiting in the darkness water with anticipation.

I’m talking about good people. They are misguided in their search for more of God. They are frustrated by their failure to “fix” the people they love and care about. They feel overwhelmed by the culture around them that marginalizes Christianity and ridicules the miraculous. They look for an anointed hero who will appear on the horizon and straighten everyone out, with undeniable miracles to back him up. But what they want is their solution, not God’s. They are chasing Saul around while Samuel is quietly anointing David right under their noses, often in their own churches.

The first generation of Christians understood that the church is to work together as a family, as parts of a body. Unfortunately, today’s pseudo-prophetic superstars emerged from the dark side of the charismatic movement, not from the Book of Acts. Even an elementary investigation of New Testament teaching makes it so evident that a Christian is to be an active member of a local church. In fact, most of the New Testament letters open with, “to the church at….” Discipleship is to happen corporately, as we grow together, if it is to be scriptural. Paul wrote,

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another.” 1 Cor 12:12

Spiritual growth happens to us individually only as we grow together in the body, the church. To circumvent this and try to accelerate spiritual growth with para-church “events” or sporadic “moves” always leads, sooner or later, to spiritual starvation. Spiritual growth is replaced by superstitious sensationalism. “Words” become all-important, signs are seen in everything, the devil is hiding behind every bush, and the written word of God, as well as common sense, is abandoned. Eventually, lives are wrecked.

What can concerned Christians do to help the spiritually superstitious? First, we need a huge dose of unconditional love. Second, we must pray for authentic revival, a genuine work of the Spirit, that will demonstrate the difference in a real move of God and a farce. Third, let’s stay humble before God and pursue His agenda instead of our own.

Hopefully expectant,

James

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.